I value my head. It’s great for hanging hats. I also value my brain, I spent a long time in university growing it. Therefore, most times I cycle, I wear a bicycle helmet. It’s a personal choice I make, you are free to make your own.
If you are new to the cycling scene and are making the same decision, you may be wondering how to choose a bicycle helmet to suit you and if it’s worth splashing out on the more expensive ones.
Here’s a quick run down of what to look for and some of the models I would highly recommend.
*This is a 2016 update to a 2010 article to keep things current – all previous comments have been left for guidance*
3 Things to Look for When Buying a Cycle Helmet
When choosing a bicycle helmet you mainly want to look at three things. Fit, extra features you may be interested in and keeping cool. Okay, and a forth thing, looking cool. You also need to have a budget, there’s no need to spend tons on a helmet for a casual commute. Helmet price can go up to over £200 and start as low as £25. When it comes to protection, there are few differences between the price extremes. However, spending more money should keep your head cooler and provide more comfort.
There are some exceptions to this, for example, Smith helmets have a new material called Koroyd which is better than standard helmet material but these helmets are a little more expensive – they are very comfortable though.
Fitting a Bicycle Helmet
You will want to fit the helmet correctly because it will provide far better protection and it will feel more comfortable. A properly fitted bicycle helmet will reach about halfway down your forehead and will cover a good part of the back of your head. The more it covers the better.
The strap should fit closely under the chin and should form a v-shape around the ears. Not all bicycle helmets are born the same and some will fit better than others. After you have tried one and tightened it make sure it does not wobble.
The best bet is to go into a bike shop and try the helmet first. One will fit more comfortably than others. Ideally ask an assistant in the shop to fit the helmet for you. Alternatively, if buying online, make sure you measure your head correctly as instructed by the manufacturer.
(View all the cycling accessory guides such as this one)
Extra features
Lighter colours can be seen by other road users so if you don’t mind having a neon head, go for brighter colours. As your head moves a lot and is almost directly in the line of sight for most drivers, this is a good place for bright colours, small lights and reflective elements.
Helmet technology innovations are usually reserved for decreases in weight/increases in performance. However, in the last year or two a new safety innovation has emerged – MIPS (Multi-Direction Impact Protection System). This is a plastic liner that can be added into any helmet. It moves slightly in the case of a crash, dispersing the force which in turn limits the chances of concussion caused by a focused hit. In this way, MIPs acts much like the fluid between your skull and brain – this also spreads impact forces when you bump your head.
Keeping Cool in Your Cycle Helmet
In terms of keeping cool as you would expect more air vents equal more cooling of the head. However, more air vents also means that there is less of the padding to protect your head. You should pick a trade-off between the two.
As for weight? This doesn’t tend to be an issue as the majority of helmets weigh less than 300 grams. If you are commuting around town at a leisurely pace, the weight is not going to make a significant difference anyway.
Style
This is subjective, and some say all helmets look a little silly, but urban orientated ones such as Bern tend to look a little better. I have found that helmets which fit really well look a bit better – they stick out less. Try a few to find one you are happy with.
Popular Bicycle Helmet Models
If you want a helmet that looks a little more urban, then a Bern is for you. The Watts/Lenox (men’s/women’s) is a very popular helmet in London and for good reason – its tough and pretty cool looking. Less vents makes it a great choice for winter too. As an added bonus it can double as your ski helmet if you are that way inclined.
This is a really good value helmet, made even better with the inclusion of MIPs for extra brain protection. Lots of vents to keep you cool in the summer but easily fits a cap under it for winter. A non-MIPs version is available as well.
This is a very popular helmet for those of you who commute and ride longer distances on roads at the weekend, the Mojito has road cred all over it. It is also super comfortable, pretty light weight and available in a colossal range of colours.
What is your favourite cycle helmet? How did you pick it? Share your useful selection advice in the comments!
More similar articles:
Say no to helmets: http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/06/get-yer-torches-its-bike-helmet.html
Dan: I am curious why NO to helmets. I always wear mine voluntarily. Do you think your head is better protected without one? Or do you think a helmet really provides none anyway. Thanks for your reply.
There is some evidence to suggest that a helmet could leave you worse off than not wearing one in some situations, whilst providing little to no protection in the rest. The effects of risk compensation, rotational brain injury and neck injury are worthy of consideration.
Of course, if wearing a helmet keeps a person on a bike then I’m all for it. The same goes for not wearing one, of course.
Four weeks ago I was hit by a car. When hitting the ground the helmet saved my life. The helmet cracked but my head is OK. Cannot say the same about my legs – another week at home.
A cracked helmet is a failed helmet, all of the force would’ve been transferred into your skull if the helmet cracked. You should thank your skull instead.
Don’t be silly. The helmet cracked due to the force of impact, thus dissipating the force, as it is designed to do.
I take it you don’t wear a seatbelt when driving a car as presumably it might “leave you worse off”?
Nonsense, helmets are supposed to crumple and absorb the impact. When a car crashes, does it stay intact? Why do you think steel bull bars on 4×4’s are crazy? Because they don’t allow the front of the vehicle to do it’s job and absorb the impact.
MrColostomy – to misquote the Cohen Brothers ‘obvioulsly you are not an engineer.’
Marius I am with you on this one, how lucky were you!? I too had an accident coming down a hill (road with gravel) front break went on first I went over the handle bars landed on my head and rolled (winded big style) took a chunk out of the helmet and not my head! I took most the skin off my left arm and damaged my right leg, Imagine what would have happened if my little helmet hadn’t been worn that day! Happy cycling
Oops forget to say helpful article thank you
Last winter I was hit by a car. I landed on the bonnet, slid across it then fell onto my head on the ground. My skull saved my life. Thankfully I wasn’t wearing a helmet, or I might have suffered a neck injury (scientifically reviewed data says is statistically likely).
Simple answer, what do pro cyclists do,bearing in mind they work for teams that spend millions on research, do they wear helmets or not.
They wear helmets as they are involved in very fast,very close racing.Most people riding in the UK dont.Simple!
You can’t compare the slow, congested, flat, protected, urban riding in The Netherlands with the faster, longer more open tours and commutes common in most of The U.S. A fall from a 24″ short frame, low seat 4-5mph “cruiser” just isn’t the same as even a hybrid fit for a 20 mile ride 2.5 times as fast, on failing infrastructure, crowded with much higher speed auto.’s.
Useful guide! I love my Nutcase helmet (pink! stars! polka dots!) and got lots of compliments on it. It also fits well, although I sacrifice on the ventilation side on the hottest days. I prefer not to have a super sporty helmet, since my bikes are not particularly sporty.
Thanks Dottie, glad you liked the guide. Got a series of these on the way.
@dan was wondering if this post would result in a no helmets debate!
Nice tips for choosing the right helmet.
thanks.
Thank you for this useful quide. I would like to ask is there’s any law or must to use helmet when cycling in London?
I’m moving to London from another country and really would like to know the law of using cycling helmets.
Hi Elegia, you are very welcome. There is not a law in London that says you must wear a bicycle helmet – it is completely a personal choice.
Which country are you moving from?
Ok, thank you so much for your answer! I do consider to buy a helmet, but it’s good to know the rules.
Where are you allowed to bike? I mean should you always cycle in a driveway or can you walkways too? We have quite good cycle paths here in Finland and we don’t have to bike in driveways.
I’m from Finland and moving next week. I’m a bit worried about this cycling thing, because we have right-hand traffic. I have never cycled in left-hand traffic before!
Elegia, the good news for you as a newcomer is you can get FREE one to one cycle training with Transport for London, who sponsor all London Boroughs to provide this.
You can get a few hours one-to-one training on road skills anywhere you live, work or study. You can get a qualified cycle trainer to meet you and show you around. That would be great for someone coming to London and cycling on the left for the first time.
Go to TfL’s website and look for cycling, cycling in London, cycle skills and find out more. Sorry I didn’t have the link to send you.
I hope you enjoy cycling in London!!
Elegia, glad you will be joining us from Finland. You will be absolutely fine! If you prefer start off on some of the quieter streets to get used to the cycling on the other side of the road. There is a law that says cycling on the pavement (walkway) is illegal so try to avoid doing it. Cyclists are allowed in bus lanes (Though be sure the bus driver can see you by not getting too close to it) and there are cycle lanes but they are attached to the road and drivers sometimes park in them. So it won’t be as organised as I expect it is in Finland. Cycling remains the fastest, easiest and healthiest way to get around London so your going to love it 🙂
The higher the cost of the helmet (in most cases) is due to the more expensive materials and processes required to manufacture a helmet with more vents (and hence less material) that provides the same protection as a cheaper helmet. Having said that, I’d willingly pay more for a helmet that (in my opinion) makes me look cooler on the bike. (Note to self: helmets are not considered fashionable in any other facet of life!).
Griff – well summed up on the reasons for the price differences
Andreas. Came on line to surf and look for advice in regard to buying a helmet. Found it right here, thanks. Just got myself a bike, a Raleigh urban 2. Not had one for twenty years and I had forgotten what fun they are and they keep you fit. Just starting out all over again. so many things have changed, but with the help of guys like you, I will get sorted. Thanks again. Take care.
Paul, you are very welcome for the bicycle helmet advice! Raleigh urban 2 is good choice!
Nice article. I was fitted for mine at McClain’s Bike Shop USA and have always been glad I did. It’s a Specialized and of low cost. Question: what are some suggestions for stopping the UV rays through the air slits? I did find some bandannas of SPF 50 that I think might work.
Lidl does bike gear ever now and a gain. The helmets are very good and come in
XXL which is great if your head is bigger than the 61/62cm at which most other manufacturers seem to finish at.
Hi Andreas,
thanks for the great article. I was wondering though what you thought of the Specialised Echelon and the Giro Saros and whether you’d still choose the Abus Urban over them for safety / comfort / coolness.
Thanks!
Hi Andreas, was wondering as a general rule are the ‘cooler’ BMX cycle helmets also suitable protection for normal rode use? Thanks
Check these out. http://www.proviz.co.uk/products/helmets.html
I noticed a guy wearing one of their jackets the other day and having checked their website out I see they do helmets too.
Hi Andreas and everyone
My brothers and I just bought some bikes yesterday at an auction and none of us have cycled in a long long time but have all wanted to get into it because we know it is the best way forward for getting to work or university.
So ideally we would like some guidance. The bikes we bought might need a service, is this worth doing and where is good and good value to get that done?
Thanks for your post SAM, I was thinking about why helmets are not promoted as hi-viz and I think that has to be best. Is there any reviews on them? or Cheapest place to buy them?
Which lights do you recommend and where to buy cheaply?
In fact what are THE best websites to get deals on cycling gear?
Any advice on what to avoid or get all appreciated.
thank you
C
Just any advice really
Hi Chewy – I haven’t spotted any reviews on them yet as I think they are a new company. They look great though – I haven’t seen any other high-viz helmet before! Think I’m going to buy one too. You can find a retailer through the website http://www.proviz.co.uk/retailers/
Happy cycling!
Sam
Hi Chewy and Sam – thanks for the info. PROVIZ – what a great idea integrating lights and hi vis yellow into a helmet. Definitelly going to get one – the Saturn looks the best one – you can buy through the site.
Cheers
Simon
I have a fluorescent mercury helmet which is comfortable and so bright people will see you coming a mile off which is great for riding around in London and it isn’t bad for the price at all. I really like how you have written this article, very helpful advice, thanks.
What is the brand? Website?
I am looking for a tailight that will show up during daytime hours. Any suggestions?
Judd
I use a Smart Lunar 1 watt rear light. Brilliant piece of kit – very bright, light and weatherproof. It’s on all the time when I’m on roads.
Nice article, very important point made that the colour of the helmet is just as important as the style. I have heard about the no helmet brigade before and it is really just anti-capitalist nonsense. I am more than happy to take onboard opinion but having read their arguments it always moves to the argument that its a con for companies to make money – they are right to some degree but to dismiss the claims that its safer to wear helmets is just utter stupidity. If that is the basis of the argument you may as well not wear shin pads playing football, remove face masks in ice hockey, and save a few quid on your car and not have airbags seatbelts or impact protection. The argument that helmets do nothing and its all a big money making scheme is quite laughable and the sort of blinkered bias argument I would expect from someone unwilling to debate.
I have lived in both Paris and Tokyo, and yes the users of the road are certainly much less aggressive than London where i live now. On occasions I did ride helmetless in Paris, in London not a chance. People cant SEE you because they are not used to cyclists in the same way they are in Paris – brightly coloured helmets put you much more visibly in a motorists eyeline, because remember they are looking for other cars, not cyclists.
I read the website link that Dan posted, and yes there is a valid argument that wearing a helmet doesn’t drastically save lives – if you are hit by a car at 40mph head on its unlikely you will be in any decent shape. But any fall, most commonly falls which are low speed avoidance falls, you invariabley cannot control your motion and your head will come into contact with the ground – lets put it this way, if i hit you over the head with a baseball bat would you rather have a helmet on, or off? Dan? Want to try that one out? I am happy to be the guy with the helmet on…
Can anyone recommend a reasonably-priced place to get a cycle helmet in central London, please?
A pal of mine in his 50’s slid on some ice on the way to work this winter and banged his head hard on the kerb. He was very badly shaken but his helmet undoubtedly saved him from serious head injuries. There are various arguments about behavior compensation and other such esoteric matters, but I don’t think they make the case for not wearing a helmet.
When I was a teenager I cycled everywhere and fell off more times than I care to remember. I never had more than a few bruises and grazes, but as you get older you simply don’t bounce as well and one’s natural defence reactions when falling just aren’t as good. I don’t like helmets, but after many years without I have now bought one because IMO the case for not wearing one cannot be made.
Richard—-you’re quite right and very wise to wear a helmet ( I mostly wear a trackie’s “banana hat”), but if we’re ever legally FORCED to wear helmets,then I swear I will start a campaign to force car-drivers and their passengers to wear them too, as I’m quite sure a fair percentage of car-crashes cause serious HEAD injuries to the occupants…….and what about all the pedestrians (thousands of ’em!) suffering fatal HEAD injuries when struck by motor vehicles…….helmets for bikies? Helmets for all!
P.R.
them
Helmets are a sign of a failed cycle culture. Like flouro hi-viz [nice idea guys.. give riders road worker status.. that’ll be a big sell…) they send a very clear and unambiguous message that cycling is unsafe that turns off potential new cycle riders, thereby ensuring less cycle riders on the roads, and a more dangerous environment. Successful cycle cultures are lidless, and their accident rates are far lower. UK research (bath university.. check it out) has shown that car drivers drive substantially closer to people wearing helmets than those who don’t.
I don’t know about you, but my main safety concern is to avoid being hit. Speaking more anecdotally: in car crazy New Zealand where I live, and which is one of the few countries to adopt compulsory helmets (- an instant precursor to a massive drop in cycling of course) I now ride upright, un-lidded, comfortable and confident, just like most in the more civilized non-english speaking world, only I’m breaking the law. Drivers give me a much wider berth and I have never felt safer, and happier, on a bike in my life.
There are loads of cool bike helmets out there and Bell make some of the best. i hear people whinging about how uncomfortable some cycle helmets are and maybe they are right to a degree. Surely you need to take your time when selecting the best one for you. After all a cycle helmet is the single most important accessory after buying a bike.
Frankly, I cringe whenever I see a cyclist riding without one. Well done to antone who is championing the cause!
David “Cringe” Smith,
Best not to cringe while riding——-you’ll fall off!
P.R.
Why are cycle helmets al the same design? Would a horse rider helmet not do the job? How about the head guards worn by rugby players? I could stow that in my pocket when I reach my destination. Seems to me that the design of the modern helmet is a licence to print money rather than give the varied cyclists a choice. We need different styles to suit the image crazy lycra clad speed nutter, through the middle aged chap who want to pop down to the pub to the Mary Poppins type.
Agree re: different designs. I’m looking for one without air vents on top in order to protect my hairless head from the sun. Right now I wear a SPF 50 bandana underneath.
I just had the “cracked helmet” conversation at local bike shop. Yes the helmet is supposed to crack under impact. On the 2nd or 3rd hit that is.
I can’t imagine a helmetless head hitting pavement 2 or 3 times. Just like I don’t understand not trying to be as visible to motorists as possible. My thinking is that most motorists don’t want to hit a cyclist. If they can see you I think they won’t actually TRY to hit you. If they don’t see you then…
So has anyone got any safe alternatives to the standard cycle helmet?
I’m in the US (Oregon) and our weather is similar to London’s. have made it to my 60’s by being somewhat careful. Would not even ride around the block without a helmet on.
IMHO, most helmets are roughly the same…every one of mine has a mirror, since I ride in traffic.
But I also ride “year ’round” . In cold air my eyes water badly. Tried many solutions, but settled on snowboarding goggles , but they don’t fit to a bike helmet.
For winter riding, got a snowboarding helmet also. Besides mating with the goggles, it has ear flaps to stay warm, a low rear and closable vents. Sure is nice when rain starts or cold sets in ..to close those vents. (and warm ears are nice too 🙂 )
Seeing as you asked, tranquility, I feel bound to say that riding confidently, upright, on a nice solid bike will greatly diminish the chances of being hit by a car. Cars notice me and give me a substantially wider girth since I stopped wearing helmets. I am quite sure i’m literally safer without a helmet. European (sorry, I mean er.. Continental, er.. chaps..) societies have virtually no helmets worn, and far fewer casualties then helmet-wearing and helmet-legislated societies, like my own sad and sorry home. We in the English speaking world (what is our problem?) will never approach the richness of european cycle friendly societies if we cling to a culture of fear.
Helmets seemed like a great idea at the time, but their pernicious effect on cycling numbers is all well known and well documented. So considering the bigger picture, I also choose to not wear a helmet or roadworker’s flouroviz, because it scares the bejezuz out of people who might otherwise consider cycling, thereby ensuring less cycle riders on roads, and a less safe environment for people on bicycles. Helmets and hi-viz are a cruelly self fullfilling prophecy of cycling doom.
It’s extremely unlikely, but I may be flattened by a lorry tomorrow. That said, I’m more incentivised to ride and enjoy a healthier, longer lifespan, without a helmet, than with one.
Brilliant – I would enjoy listeneing to you over a few beers and then pedalling off home free from kit foisted upon society by people who are unable to balance the risk factors. Whether you are right or wrong doesn’t matter – just a pleasure to hear. I think there is a time and place for everything. Best wishes and thanks for a refreshing response. 🙂
Tim G.,
So, helmets and bright clothing terrify people and put them off the idea of cycling, do they? Then surely car-seatbelts, air-bags and so on must put people off driving because these safety factors suggest driving must be dangerous…not too convincing, given the huge increase in traffic volumes since 1970!
Of course they scare people Phil. I must admit that’s a new one: I haven’t heard the seatbelt comparison before.
There is a sharp parallel with the introduction of helmet laws in both Australia and my own New Zealand, and a massive decline in cycling, so yeah – they scare people. Be thankful your own transport and cycling minister gets this (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23945179-minister-for-cycling-refuses-to-back-pedal-in-helmet-row.do), as does your mayor.
Need I also spell out that seatbelts are substantially less uncomfortable and intrusive than bicycle dangerwear, and like airbags, are invisible to outside observers? Also, that the dangers of driving are obfuscated by a multi-billion dollar marketing campaign to convince us of the canard of ‘freedom’ to be found, driving on an open road – when the reality is day to day vehicular congestion.
I will come back to the key consideration here: what do the successful cycling societies do?
All of the high cycling modal share countries (as in 10-40% of trips cycling) are almost entirely (as in 99%+) helmet-free. This is not a state they graduated to – they have been helmet-free from the earlier stages of near total car dominance such as we in the english speaking world suffer now, up until this present day; and their ascension has been assisted by the lack of the very barriers and danger culture which we, with our tragic road warrior cycling cultures, cling to.
Crap cycling isn’t just the fault of car drivers – it’s something we have chosen to perpetuate ourselves. I have nothing against a bit of colour, I’m not stupid and I wear a white afghan hat at night to remind my vehicular neighbours that I exist, but while helmets and roadworkers’ jackets might have seemed like a good idea at the time (hell, I thought so once): in the bigger picture, they have proven to be anything but.
My brother came off his bike 4 weeks ago and was hospitalised overnight with severe concussion. Had he not been wearing his helmet, he would be dead.
Please stop trying to put people off wearing helmets. Perhaps you should try to find the statistics relating to number of deaths while wearing a helmet and deaths when not.
An important question this article doesn’t answer is which foam type to consider (eps foam for one-impact protection, hard hat Brock foam for multiple impacts, lighter foam like Bern’s zip foam, or some water-safe foam for folks who aren’t held back by long rides in the rain, etc.). Also, how seriously should we take the warnings about dropping the helmet? Most helmets are supposedly useless after just one drop, the lighter and sportier helmet types are particularly vulnerable. Also it’s worth mentioning there are much more stylish/practical helmets available than the ones mentioned. Bern’s sink fit models are particularly nice. For men: watts, Macon and Brentwood models. I for one would love help navigating the foam question.
What do we think of the Nutcase helmets? I was considering one of these but mainly from the “trendy” perspective. I would like some assurance that these are a good and provide protection?
I believe all helmets are put through the same stringent testing and must pass the safety regulations before they can be approved so in terms of differences in safety I think they all serve the same purpose.
I assume the type of foam would also get covered here as they must all be passed as safe so it basically comes down to user preference.
I do wonder about the knocking and dropping of a helmet and how much of that it can take before it is rendered useless.
I have a Giro Prolight which is extremely light (160g) but thankfully have not yet had to test its impact abilities.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually realize what you are talking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also consult with my website =). We could have a hyperlink trade agreement among us
I only live by the facts and not guess work !
Cycle helmets are only designed and tested to withstand an impact equivalent to an average weight rider travelling at a speed of 12 mph falling onto a stationary kerb shaped object from a height of 1 metre. They are never tested involving a third party (a car). Surveys show cars will drive closer to cyclists if they are wearing a helmet because they believe them to be protected.
If you decide that you should wear a helmet then for that helmet to be able to offer you any worthwhile protection it must be the correct size AND fit.
I am still undecided !
Obviously, when a car hits a bicycle we already know who’s going to win in that game, the cyclist doesn’t have a chance. Now then, for the bicycle helmet this may be much easier than you think. A small coating over the plastic colored shell could be incorporated into the bicycle helmet, and therefore the bicycle helmet could change color.
I was riding along the Vauxhall embankment and a trucks wing mirror hit me in the back of the head, I was knocked off my bike and fell onto the road and then the kerb! Luckily I never went under the truck.
i have a Bontrager helmet that absorbed all of the impact but now i want to start riding again but do not want to buy a new helmet, how do I know my helmet is okay?????
If your helmet has taken an impact, it is not safe to use anymore.
Thanx for the info!
I recommend purchasing the foldable helmet Fuga by http://www.closca.co
I don’t think the Yakkay helmet can be beaten for urban good looks. I plan to get one soon.
I am 55 and had never worn a helmet….they just looked so ridiculous.
But after constant nagging by well meaning pedestrians i finally succumbed and got myself a Bern Helmet, thank god i did too…
If you spent so long at university, shouldn’t you look at the research rather than gullibly wear a helmet that’s unlikely to ever be helpful?
I have ridden a bike all my life and have only ever worn a helmet when I had to, during races and sportives. I think it is a sensible rule to wear a helmet during races and sportives and I have no issue with doing so.
My reasons for not wearing one otherwise are, firstly, the wind makes a lot more noise passing through the helmet and my neck gets stiff because I’m not used to wearing one. Thirdly, I feel quite invincible when wearing a helmet and glasses which is a bad place to be.
That said I would never tell anyone not to wear a helmet but I have also lived in The Netherlands where nobody wears one and wish people felt safe enough not to have to wear one in the UK
Right. You would not be invincible wearing helmet. You could have a accident other than colliding with car where helmet would help. Like writer going downhill and hitting front brake causing him to leave bike unexpectedly. Or hitting some gravel and losing control. Or mind wandering. Or, or, or…Helmet are relatively inexpensive. May look funny but who cares. Actually I think it looks better. And offers a bit more visibility to motorists.
Only Snell-standard helmets are tested for impacts onto stones and almost no-one wears them any more – so a helmet may help or may harm in such crashes. We simply don’t know for most of them.
How the heck to they offer more visibility? They’re black (so harder for motorists to spot than most hair or hats) and they slightly obstruct the top of the cyclist’s field of vision if worn as directed.
But it ain’t about cost or looks: even though it means paying an average £50 every 3 years and they do look really ugly, only helmet promoters seem to claim those are the main problem. The main problem is that they seem far more likely to be no help or even to injure the user than to help a reasonably careful cyclist. Surely the first thing that such a public health measure should do is demonstrate that the benefits are worth the cost? And helmets never have.
>> They’re black (so harder for motorists to spot than most hair or hats) and they slightly obstruct the top of the cyclist’s field of vision if worn as directed.
what ? mine are white or yellow.
for extra visibility in winter conditions, I attach a flashing light on the rear. My sunglasses obstruct more than a helmet.
>>The main problem is that they seem far more likely to be no help or even to injure the user than to help a reasonably careful cyclist.
IF I go down, for whatever reason, would sure rather have one than not. Besides it holds my mirror and can’t even imagine riding in traffic without that.
You are of course welcome to not wear one, myself..I care for my brain.
So yours are white or yellow. Most aren’t. More are black than any other colour.
Yes, if you crash onto a flat surface or kerb, it might help, but if you crash on gravel like you described, it might not. On top of that, it does seem like helmets can injure people even if they don’t crash and they seem to make crashing much more frequent.
Could always put the mirror on the bars like most people do.
I don’t wear a helmet because I care about all of my body and not only the top of my head, so I don’t want to crash at all. Even if you only care about your brain, you probably should look at what an anti-concussion helmet looks like and notice how it’s completely unlike a cycle crash helmet.